Ethan stared at the floating system window hovering in front of his eyes, his expression shifting between disbelief and growing anticipation. He blinked a few times, then leaned in slightly, focusing on the elegant golden-black text shimmering before him.
With a deep breath, he reached out mentally and selected the [Status] panel. The interface flickered momentarily, as if syncing with his thoughts, before a detailed breakdown of his character appeared before him.
[STATUS PANEL]
Name: Ethan Graves
Race: Human
Class: Overlord (SSS-Class)
Level: 1
Health: 100/100
Mana: 80/80
Strength: D
Agility: D
Endurance: C-
Intellect: C+
Charisma: B
Luck: B-
Dominion Points: 0
Potential Rating: SSS
Harem Slots: 0/10
He stared at the window in stunned silence.
"Wow… it actually feels like a game. This is unreal. There's no way this is a dream," he muttered, and then a wide grin spread across his face.
His stats… were trash. Bottom-tier, barely starter material. If a level 5 goblin sneezed on him, he'd probably collapse on the spot.
Still, as he rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms, his body didn't feel weak. Not like before. His limbs were leaner, his muscles toned, and his posture straighter. He felt taller, more athletic—like he had stepped into the body of a prodigy molded by elite training.
And yet, one thing on that screen overshadowed everything else.
SSS Potential.
Just one line—one title—was enough to make his current stats meaningless. He might be weak now, but with that kind of potential... the ceiling was limitless.
He wasn't just another player, nor was he the designated "hero" of the game's story.
He was something else entirely.
He was an Overlord.
His excitement surged like a storm in his chest.
"What the fuck, man. Overlord? This is next-level. This wasn't even part of the original game storyline!"
Turning his attention to the landscape below, he spotted the open plains far beneath him. Jagged rocks jutted from the ground, clusters of dead trees clawed at the sky, and in the far distance, floating stone blocks defied gravity.
And then it hit him.
"Wait… how the hell do I even get down from here? I'm, like, 8 kilometers high."
As if the world had been waiting for that exact question, the floating stone platform suddenly began to descend—rapidly.
"AAAAAAAAAA—why is this so damn fast?!"
Wind rushed past him. His hair whipped violently, and his stomach churned as the platform plummeted like a missile from the stratosphere.
Just as it was about to crash into the earth, it jerked to a sudden stop a few meters above the ground.
Ethan gasped for air, his breathing ragged and uneven. His knees buckled slightly as the adrenaline settled.
"Holy shit… I'm alive," he muttered.
Before he could collect himself further, the stone platform crumbled beneath his feet, disintegrating into ash.
"Wha—OW! That's so rude!" he shouted, dusting himself off. "Whoever designed this thing, I swear I'll make you pay!"
Still muttering, he opened the [Map] tab. A small blinking marker pulsed gently on the screen, guiding him.
[Destination: Ember's Hollow – Beginner Town]
"Alright… step one: get to the town, figure out how this system works, survive, and most importantly… level up."
He started walking. The journey wasn't smooth. Sharp stones crunched beneath his boots with every step, and the thin, misty mana in the air felt like static brushing against his skin. The world around him pulsed with quiet tension, as if unseen eyes were watching from the shadows.
As he continued onward, something within him began to settle. The reality of it all was sinking in, step by step.
He was here. For real.
This world, once his escape from a meaningless and depressing life… was now his reality.
And he was no longer just a player behind a screen. He was in the game.
Eventually, the wooden walls of Ember's Hollow came into view. Tall, rugged, and surrounded by sparse defenses, it looked like a town constantly preparing for war.
By the time the gates came into full view, Ethan's determination had crystallized. Stronger than it had ever been in his entire life.
This was no longer just a fantasy. There was no restart, no save file, and definitely no logout button. This was it. Just the grind—and the climb to the top.
The gates creaked open slowly as he approached.
Inside, chaos reigned.
Hawkers shouted over one another, selling cheap beginner gear and roasted monster meat. A trio of mages argued loudly near a fountain, their hands waving over glowing mana crystals. A blacksmith hammered away at a dull iron sword, the sound of metal against metal echoing through the air.
It was loud. Unfiltered. Messy.
Ethan loved it.
With a spark in his eyes, he made his way toward the Adventurer's Guild—a sturdy two-story building crafted from dark oak and reinforced stone. Its wide doors were thrown open, welcoming newcomers and veterans alike.
The crowd thickened around the entrance. He pushed through, entering into a hall filled with the scent of iron, sweat, and old parchment. Quest boards lined the walls, overloaded with missions ranging from herb collection to beast subjugation.
A long line of rookie adventurers stood waiting before a stern red-haired receptionist at the counter. The hall buzzed with voices, laughter, shouting and deals being made.
Ethan was a nobody here. A newcomer with nothing to his name.
But that wouldn't be for long. He knew he would rule over this world.
He just had to start the grind to become the overlord.
He stepped forward, eyes locked on the front desk. But just before he reached it—
His eyes froze on someone and his jaw dropped.
"Holy shit…"